20
U niversity of O regon M onthly
late, and no one complained at the prospect of an eighty mile
ride in a stuffy day coach, carrying, perhaps, thirty Americans,
forty Italians, a half a dozen Japs and a couple of Umatilla
“braves.” The mingling in this congress of all nations would
not have been so desirable, but for the fact that the Glee Club
earned a side attraction every year. The after-dinner speeches
of Mr. Gross oècurred almost any time the speaker deemed
it “fitting and appropriate to make a few remarks,” and they
always received the applause deserved, whether the spasmodic
burst of oratory was given behind the scenes in the opera
house, in the stuffy day. coach to a group of astonished for
eigners, or in the dining room at the hotel. At the latter
place he was always seen and heard at his best, and thè well
chosen words, and brief, spicy flow of oratory—‘following of
course, the usual preliminary of swallowing a few lumps Of
embarrassment and nervously toying with his napkin rivalled
the famous after dinner speeches of Chauncey Depew.
Bad weather, coupled with late financial stringency in
the Northwest, cut down the receipts iti Some towns, while in
others the boys had the pleasure of singing before packed
houses. Triie to the Oregon spirit to do their best at all times,
the club gave probably the best concert of the trip at Walla
Walla in the ^eriefny’S camp.” The attendance was very
small, owing to the negligence of the Walla Walla manage
ment in getting out the advertising. The Whitman Glee
Club had given their concert the evening before and as ex
pected, a small but very appreciative audience was present.
The boys did their best, however, and the liberal applause
and flattering press notices showed the efforts, were appre
ciated.
During the closing sketch at La Grande the Q. A. C.
boys of that place dropped from the flies a gigantic banner
in Ö. A. C. cölors, on which was printed, (tO: A. C.—-N orth
west Championship, 1907.” The show was discontinued for
a few minutes and everybody Joined in the hearty laugh, we
must confess, at out expense. The boys- are still trying to
think up sòme way to even up the score, but as Q, A. C.
never, had a glee club, and as far as known, never had a stu-